Gas generator ignition assembly using a projectile

An inflator for a motor vehicle inflatable safety system, comprising:

• housing means for containing a gas generating propellant;
• ignition means, interconnected with said housing means, for igniting said propellant, said ignition means comprising an activator means for igniting said propellant, an actuation means for engaging said activator. means, and a retention means for retaining said actuation means in a first position;
• actuation support means, interconnected with said housing means, for containing at least a portion of and guiding said actuation means toward said activator means;
• projectile means for impacting said actuation means to propel said actuation means from said first position into engagement with said activator means to ignite said propellant;
• and
• means for sealing said actuation means against said actuation support means, said sealing being affected by movement of said actuation means away from said activator means after impacting said activator means.

A method for activating an inflator in a motor vehicle inflatable safety system, comprising the steps of:

• retaining a stored gas in a housing:
• releasing said stored gas;
• providing an actuation support, said actuation support being interconnected with a gas generator positioned within said housing, said gas generator containing a propellant means for providing propellant gases and having an activator means for igniting said propellant means;
• positioning an actuation piston means for engaging said activator means at least partially within said actuation support;
• moving said actuation piston means in a first direction toward said activator means;
• engaging said actuation piston means and said activator means to ignite said propellant means;
• and
• moving said actuation piston means in a second direction opposite said first direction to seal at least a portion of said actuation piston means against at least a portion of said actuation support, wherein the flow of gases through said actuation support and said actuation piston means is substantially limited.

An inflator for a motor vehicle inflatable safety system, comprising:

• housing means for containing a gas generating propellant;
• ignition means, interconnected with said housing means, for igniting said propellant, said ignition means comprising an activator means for igniting said propellant, an actuation means for engaging said activator means, and a retention means for retaining said actuation means in a first position, said actuation means comprising a piston having a plurality of projecting members for contacting at least a portion of said activator means in a plurality of locations;
• and
• projectile means for impacting said actuation means to propel said actuation means from said first position into engagement with said activator means to ignite said propellant.

An inflator for a motor vehicle inflatable safety system, comprising:

• housing means for containing a gas generating propellant;
• ignition means, interconnected with said housing means, for igniting said propellant, said ignition means comprising an activator means for igniting said propellant, an actuation means for engaging said activator means, and a retention means for retaining said actuation means in a first position;
• and
• projectile means for impacting said actuation means to propel said actuation means form said first position into engagement with said activator means to ignite said propellant, wherein a portion of said actuation means which faces said activator means has a greater cross-sectional area than a portion of said actuation means which is engageable by said projectile means.

An inflator for a motor vehicle inflatable safety system, comprising:

• housing means for containing a gas generating propellant;
• ignition means, interconnected with said housing means, for igniting said propellant, said ignition means comprising an activator means for igniting said propellant, an actuation means for engaging said activator means, a retention means for retaining said actuation means in a first position, and an actuation support means, interconnected with said housing means, for engaging at least a portion of said actuation means, said actuation support means comprising a first sealing portion engageable with a second sealing portion of said actuation means;
• and
• projectile means for impacting said actuation means to propel said actuation means from said first position into engagement with said activator means to ignite said propellant, wherein said actuation means comprises a concave portion which faces said activator means whereby gases flowing through said activator means exert a force on said concave portion to move said actuation means to engage said first and second sealing portions and wherein the engagement of said first and second sealing portions substantially restricts the flow of gases from said housing means through said actuation support means and said actuation means.

An inflator for a motor vehicle inflatable safety system, comprising:

• housing means for containing a gas generating propellant;
• ignition means, interconnected with said housing means, for igniting said propellant, said ignition means comprising an activator means for igniting said propellant, an actuation means for engaging said activator means, a retention means for retaining said actuation means in a first position, and an actuation support means, interconnected with said housing means, for engaging at least a portion of said actuation means;
• and
• projectile means for impacting said actuation means to propel said actuation means from said first position into engagement with said activator means to ignite said propellant, wherein said actuation support means further comprises orifice means for reducing resistance to the movement of said actuation means toward said activator means.